NEPALI BANDA

Yesterday a "Banda" was declared in Kathmandu. From what I understand, a Banda is a form of civil protest in Nepal. It's usually non violent and mainly affects the roads. It's hugely inconvenient! All the roads are shut down and you're not able to pass through by vehicle. The Dalit movement was behind the Banda.

My new friend Ted and I were walking up and down the street trying to figure out: 1. where we could eat breakfast (everything was closed) ,and 2. how am I going to get to the airport? No taxi's are able to run during Banda's. They can last for several hours to several days. You never know. We figured we'd hike to the hotel up the street because they have guests that will need to get to the airport. Luckily, they were able to help us, and had called someone to take me.

It was fun because I got a special escort to the airport from the Nepali tourist police. They didn't charge me any rupees either. It's funny how things work out because all that time that we spent on the micro bus out in the country where the Banda's usually occur, we didn't have a single problem. But when I get back to Kathmandu, the day that I need to get to the airport...there is a Banda. What are the chances?

I'm not sure why my luck has been down a bit since leaving on this journey i.e. LAX, conjunctivitis, and the Banda. It's only been 10 days, and these 10 days have been pretty eventful. I'm hoping things are going to turn around for me in Thailand.